$140 million contract awarded for I-85 HOT lane extension

The I-85 HOT Lane Express Lane, as seen on Oct. 15, 2013. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Credit: Andria Brooks

Credit: Andria Brooks

The I-85 HOT Lane Express Lane, as seen on Oct. 15, 2013. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

And the winner is... C.W. Matthews. (Oh, and thousands of Northeast Atlanta commuters.)

A contract for $139.6 million was awarded Tuesday to the Marietta-based road contractor to design and build a 10-mile extension of the existing I-85 HOT lane in Gwinnett County, the Georgia Department of Transportation announced. That means drivers will be able to bypass congestion on the heavily traveled northeast Atlanta corridor for a far longer stretch.

The project involves construction of a single toll lane in each direction between Old Peachtree Road and Hamilton Mill Road.

The I-85 HOT Lane Express Lane, as seen on Oct. 15, 2013. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Credit: Andria Brooks

icon to expand image

Credit: Andria Brooks

The toll lane extension is scheduled for groundbreaking next spring, and set to open in June 2018.

C.W. Matthews submitted the lowest-priced bid and was scored highest in a best value comparison that also took into account the technical aspects of the design such as the bidder's approach to traffic control, project management and minority subcontractor participation. Two other design-build teams, Lane Construction/Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering and E.R. Snell/Moreland Altobelli, priced their proposals at $142 million and $154.8 million respectively.

The I-85 express lane extension is one of three major toll lane projects coming soon to metro Atlanta. The other two are:

  • Northwest Corridor: 30 miles of new lanes along I-75 from Akers Mill Road to Hickory Grove Road and along I-575 from I-75 to Sixes Road. Construction is ongoing, with opening in spring or summer 2018. Cost: $834 million.